Trois souris aveugles

The plot of "Three Blind Mice" is a lot like that of "How To Marry A Millionaire", as both films have to do with women setting out with two partners to capture rich husbands. However, instead of three seeking out three rich men, in "Three Blind Mice" the three ladies are sisters and put all their hopes and energy on one sister--played by Loretta Young. One of the other sisters poses as her secretary and the third just hides.

The film begins with the sisters all deciding to take their small inheritance and pooling it. Then, they'll leave their farm in Kansas and head to where the millionaires are--California. There, Young meets two seemingly eligible rich men--played by David Niven and Joel McCrea. Unfortunately, however, the one she is smitten with (McCrea) turns out to be from a good family...but completely broke. And, coincidentally, he was interested in her because he thought SHE was rich. As for Loretta, wen she learns the truth, she's still quite willing to marry Joel...but he will have none of that. Later, when he reappears on the scene, it sure appears as if he's changed his mind. By the time it's all over, everything works out miraculously well--like in "How To Marry A Millionaire".

While this is a very pleasant little film, it is hard to truly love this movie--mostly because the three sisters are such mercenary ladies. Still, it's well-acted and pleasant fluff and good for a rainy day.

Darryl Zanuck certainly liked The Greeks Had A Word For Them. 20th Century Fox did four versions of this story of which Three Blind Mice was the second.

From roaring twenties flappers the three husband seeking girls are the proprietors of a chicken ranch on the Kansas plains and after getting a $5000.00+ inheritance they're off to Southern California to seek a rich husband. Loretta Young is given the lead so to speak as a rich débutante with Marjorie Weaver and Pauline Moore as secretary and maid. No particular reason for them to invest in Loretta as all three women are lookers. But Loretta's most sold on the idea.

After a fashion they get themselves involved with Joel McCrea has an impressive WASP name, but little cash. He's an excellent extra man for a dinner party though. He's got a friend in David Niven who is really rich and sights are set on him. But hanging around is Stu Erwin who is a bartender who has a dislike for whom he considers gold diggers.

Three Blind Mice is a pleasant and witty comedy very typical of the era when people still dressed for dinner. Of course in this situation that fourth remake that 20th Century Fox did was the best. It was nothing less than How To Marry A Millionaire.

Still this one holds its own quite nicely.

A romantic comedy from the thirties, which has everything to be an example of the genre, that marked the era and still delights movie lovers today.

A worthy cast, led by Joel McCrea, a regular presence in the screwball comedies of the thirties, Loretta Young, an actress well suited to her character, and David Niven, then the eternal secondary British gentleman, who would only later rise, with full rights, to the leading role, especially in British cinema.

There's also a plot with potential, with three provincial goldiggers looking for husbands, falling in love with the wrong men.

However, the result clearly falls short of the sum of the parts. It lacks pace, direction, events rush without being properly matured, the story seems to be told in a hurry, without giving the viewer time to gain empathy for some of the characters.

It is however a pleasant entertainment, for those who appreciate the genre, from a good harvest, but it lacks the genius, the brilliance and the humor of the best screwball comedies, where the skeleton of the farce, well written and constructed, sustains the whole.

Three Blind Mice is a story that's been put to film too many times to count or keep track of. The three leads here are Young, McCrea, and Niven, all solid performers who I generally enjoy. However, despite their likeability I almost feel like they're miscast here. This screwball comedy is fine but what it likes is the screwy/zanniness of the genre, it just isn't silly enough. Sure, some of that is due to the direction but I think Young, as good as she is, is the weak link with this specific material. The film for me does pick up a bit with the entry of Binnie Barnes as Niven's sister. She has the comedic chops and timing this project needs, unfortunately she arrives a little too late into the proceedings. Still, despite its shortcomings The Blind Mice does come together favorably in the last third to make it a pleasant enough watch.

"Three blind mice" stars one of my favorite actors, Joel McCrea alongside charming englishman David Niven and beautiful Loretta Young. The plot bears a somewhat resemblance to "Hands across the Table" but only in the middle of the movie. The main core of it stays untouched throughout the movie: that you can fall in love with a rich man just as easily as with a poor one. And that's true. You are not in control of your feelings and emotions when it comes to love. When you find that someone you want to spend every minute of your life with, nothing matters anymore.

Joel is one talented actor who can pull out any role he's given and he demonstrates it brilliantly in this one. I've seen David mostly in supporting roles and he surely acts out the most of them, as he does here too. But a pleasant surprise for me was Loretta who was so charmingly gorgeous everytime I saw her face on screen.

Sometimes we're lost. Sometimes we don't know where to go and what to do. Sometimes we're like blind mice that don't see a thing when it's right in front of our noses. This is a good romantic comedy and I would love to watch it again, given that it's only 75 minutes long. Time flies when we're young... or in love.